A Triumph of Genius: Edwin Land, Polaroid, and the Kodak Patent War

Edwin Land (1909%E2%80%931991), founder of Polaroid Corp. and inventor of instant photography, was at the center of one of the most important technology-related legal battles in U.S. history. According to this dense book about Land's life, which was punctuated by Polaroid's patent war with Kodak, the idea for a camera capable of producing pictures within seconds of being taken came to Land in 1943 when his young daughter expressed disappointment at waiting for images to be developed. During a period of significant experimentation, Polaroid partnered with Eastman Kodak Company to produce film for its cameras. The friendly rivalry continued for years but slowly eroded as Polaroid's instant photography cameras gained greater commercial success. When Kodak entered the instant photography market in 1976, Polaroid sued for patent infringement in a case that lasted 15 years. Fierstein, whose work on Polaroid's legal team throws his objectivity into question, provides a blow-by-blow account of the case, as well as its extensive backstory. American law enthusiasts will admire Fierstein's meticulous research and analytical prose; the relentless barrage of details, however, is sure to overwhelm lay readers. (Feb.)